In the 1970s and 1980s, Dijkstal, was a city councillor and alderman in Wassenaar, a suburb of the Dutch administrative capital The Hague. In 1982, he became a Member of Parliament, where he was spokesman for education and emancipation.  While being deputy group leader, he paved the way to establish the first ever Dutch government without a Christian democrat coalition partner. In 1994, as a so-called "bridge builder" Dijkstal became deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of the "Purple government" that was led by social democrat Prime Minister Wim Kok.

In 1998, he succeeded Frits Bolkestein as head of the VVD parliamentary group and became the party's political leader and head of list in the 2002 parliamentary elections, which were overshadowed by the murder of the populist politician Pim Fortuyn. Being an anti-populist, Dijkstal soon left politics after these elections.

Hans Dijkstal was not only known for his politics. He loved to play sports and jazz music, which he played at many VVD party congresses, and hosted a radio music show for many years.

ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck: "Hans Dijkstal was an example to those liberals who genuinely believe in personal freedoms."